A succulent subshrub, up to 1.2-1.5m high, with thick, pale grey-brown branches, each crowned by a saucer-shaped rosette, 20cm across, of spoon-shaped, sticky, balsam-scented, pale green leaves with pointed tips. Flower panicles, 15-25cm long, of many pale yellow flowers appear on mature plants in late spring
1-1.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow under glass in a cool or temperate greenhouse or conservatory or as a houseplant in filtered light, in a standard cactus compost (or peat-free, John Innes No 2 with an added third of extra grit or fine gravel) and allow it to dry out almost completely between waterings; for more advice see houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation
Propagate by seed, sown at 19-24°C in spring (it does not reproduce readily from seed) or take rosette stem-tip softwood cuttings in early summer; wait until calluses have formed, then insert in sandy compost and in moderate light at 18°C, and keep just moist until rooted
No pruning required
Generally disease-free